Whether you're sober curious, challenging yourself to take a dry January, or are living an alcohol-free lifestyle full-time, South Bank has lots of options if you're looking for more interesting alcohol-free options than the usual soft drinks.
From craft beers to aperitifs, here's a look at the South Bank bars serving the best alcohol-free drinks to try this January (and beyond).
Lucky Saint
Where to drink it: On tap at Fountain & Ink, The Victory and The Thirsty Bear
Any regular drinkers of low- and no-alcohol beers will no doubt be familiar with Lucky Saint. It really is one of the best AF craft beers around, and has the awards to prove it. An unfiltered Bavarian brewed Pilsner-style beer, Lucky Saint is made according to German Purity laws and uses the highest quality Bavarian Spring Water and Hallertau Hops to ensure you still get the perfect beer flavour – with just 0.5% alcohol.
You can find Lucky Saint on tap at the Fountain & Ink pub and The Thirsty Bear pub on Stamford Street, as well as at The Victory above the Victory Arch in Waterloo Station. Several other venues also sell Lucky Saint by the bottle including the Doggetts Coat & Badge pub next to Blackfriars Bridge.
Big Drop Brewing Co
Where to drink it: Doggetts Coat & Badge
Big Drop Brewing Co makes exclusively low/no alcohol craft beers and has been stacking up the awards worldwide, including a 2023 podium finish at the World Beer Cup. Their exclusively 0.5% and below beer range is huge and includes stouts, IPAS, lagers and pale ales. Made using 20 specialty grains they are uncompromising when it comes to taste.
You can now try Big Drop's Paradiso Citra IPA at the Doggetts Coat & Badge pub next to Blackfriars Bridge, who also stock bottles of Lucky Saint, Peroni 0 and cans of 0.0 Guinness.
Punk AF by BrewDog
Where to drink it: BrewDog Waterloo
BrewDog Waterloo at The Sidings next to Waterloo Station is one of Europe’s biggest bars and home to some of the best craft brews in town. The BrewDog alcohol-free beer Punk AF is a juicy, tropical, 0.5% Indian Pale Ale. Described as having “grassy, pine notes on a solid malt baseline”, this AF craft beer is a winner. Even better yet – throughout January they’re offering free refills on all pints of Punk AF in honour of Dry January!
If you're a fan of the Punk AF and would like to take some to enjoy at home, BrewDog Waterloo also has a small bottle shop where you can buy cans to take away with you.
Lyre’s
Where to drink it: All Bar One
Promising “all of the style and flavour with none of the alcohol”, All Bar One’s no and low range of cocktails has been created in partnership with leading non-alcoholic spirits label Lyre’s. Founded in 2019 Lyre’s is on a mission to replicate the world’s most popular spirits in a 0% alcohol format, each as close to the original as possible. Their range includes zero-alcohol rums, gins and Italian aperitifs and spritzes.
The current best-seller at All Bar One on Chicheley Street (behind the London Eye) is the signature ‘mojit-no’ made with Lyre’s White Cane non-alcoholic spirit. We also recommend trying their crisp and refreshing take on a classic Amalfi Spritz. If You’re new to Lyre’s make sure to download the All Bar One app to get a voucher for a free Dry January Lyre’s cocktail on the house!
Botivo
Where to drink it: KERB at The Understudy
Botivo is a 0% small batch, aperitif-inspired drink that boasts bittersweet, herbal and citrus tastes. It's an unusual and artisanal product that is very different to most of the mass-produced non-alcoholic drinks that have previously dominated the market. Typically enjoyed served over ice with soda, tonic or sparkling water, for Dry January KERB at National Theatre’s The Understudy is taking things up a notch with a range of Botivo-based cocktails.
Following a lively December activation at Waterloo Station, the Botivo team will also be bringing their distinctive yellow piano along to The Understudy from 19 – 21 January with plenty of opportunity to try a free taster.
Everleaf
Where to drink it: BFI Riverfront Bar at BFI Southbank
Founded by bartender and conservation biologist Paul Mathew, Everleaf is a crafty aperitif label producing unique, versatile, drinks that are based on botanical flavours. Currently, the label has three different varieties; the Marine, Forest and Mountain, each of which brings together different botanicals, herbs and fruits such as orange blossom, rosehip, saffron and bergamot, to create an aperitif that can be enjoyed neat, with soda or as a cocktail.
Marking Dry January, the BFI Riverfront Bar at the BFI Southbank has created a special Everleaf cocktail menu. Try the Tropical Forest Spritz, Cherry Blossom Cosmo, Spicy Vanilla Picante or Hugo Spritz.
